FUNGAL SPOILAGE OF WATERMELON AND ITS TREATMENT USING LEAF EXTRACT FROM NEEM (AZADIRACHTA INDICA) AND BITTER LEAF (VERNONIA AMYGDALINA) AND ITS MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION

The study was carried out to evaluate Azadirachta indica (Neem leaf) and Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) extract in the inhibition of fungi causing rot of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ). Watermelon belongs to the family Cucuritaceae, which consist of nearly 100 genera and over 750 species. Watermelon is grown annually and can be up to 3meters long. They are widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics, and a few species occurs in temperate regions. The method employed was to isolate and identify the pathogens causing rot from watermelon. The fungi pathogen isolated were A. niger, S. cerevisiae , A. wentii. The fungi were cultured with the neem and bitterleaf extracts using Potato Dextrose Agar and mycelia growth and zone inhibition was observed. V. amygdalina and A .indica have inhibitory potential on post harvest rot causing fungi of watermelon and suggest it’s ability to prolonging its shelf life and prevent diseases.